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Death Comes for the Archbishop

Willa Cather

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Jun 30, 2017 Henry Avila rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Two young French priests newly out of the seminary in France, where they first met, ( destined to become bishops of the Catholic Church, in the New World , one an Archbishop ) became close friends until death struck. Jean Marie Latour ( Jean -Baptiste Lamy the original Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico ) and Joseph Vaillant ( Joseph Projectus Machebeuf, Denver, Colorado's, first bishop) recruited by the Irish born bishop from Cincinnati, Ohio, for missionary work in America where only a relativ Two young French priests newly out of the seminary in France, where they first met, ( destined to become bishops of the Catholic Church, in the New World , one an Archbishop ) became close friends until death struck. Jean Marie Latour ( Jean -Baptiste Lamy the original Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico ) and Joseph Vaillant ( Joseph Projectus Machebeuf, Denver, Colorado's, first bishop) recruited by the Irish born bishop from Cincinnati, Ohio, for missionary work in America where only a relatively few Catholics lived , while still in their native land. They sneak away from the families too painful to say goodbye, it will cease to be home soon. The men are quite different Jean well- educate, tall, healthy good- looking , feels comfortable with his "superiors" both civilian and clergy. While Joseph a small human rather ugly by prevailing standards, sickly too, the opposite of his friend... not as intelligent, but a drive to save souls that is second to none, the poor people flock to the unpretentious priest. These simple facts strangely are mostly true...names have been changed not to protect anyone but to make this story if not 100 % accurate, close enough, more entertaining. Willa Cather brings her considerable talent, to this book and gives poignancy to what could have been a rather dry , dull story of these dedicated, brave, tireless clergymen working for God. Later both are sent to the primitive New Mexican frontier town of Santa Fe the capital, Jean as its bishop and Joseph the Vicar, where the hostile inhabitants despise the new rulers, yet the mainly French priests there are well respected... Constant lonely journeys through blazing deserts, snowy mountains, treacherous grounds, fierce storms of sand or rain or fiercer Indian tribes in the 1850's, the U.S.'s unknown southwestern territory, little populated and recently conquered from Mexico. This is the isolated almost empty of vegetation , gigantic diocese... the entire terrain they try to administer ...compromising someday the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah , many years before they join the Union. The Vatican has given them very wide authority...thousands of miles of roads to travel...the clergymen spend few days in the shabby homes they occupy in Santa Fe. On top of mules is their real homes, going from one poverty stricken Pueblo or scattered settlement to another, performing happy marriages and baptisms or sad funerals , building churches and saying Mass in distant places, numerous times for fifty years...almost perishing repeatedly, in this unforgiving country of Indians with their own religion, devout Mexicans and Protestant Americans, somehow they will try to live in Peace. The Archbishop has a fantastic dream...to build a beautiful yet unassuming cathedral in the small, destitute town of Santa Fe. An appealing saga of men who can never surrender ...in the endless struggle to reach the goal of salvation, not for themselves but for the people. I needn't have to say again, an inspiring book for believers and a touching narrative for everyone else...I was...superb. ...more

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